Cyclone Sarai

rdf:langString Cyclone Sarai

rdf:langString Tropical Cyclone Sarai

rdf:langString SPac

rdf:langString Sarai 2019-12-28 0205Z.jpg

rdf:langString tropical cyclone

rdf:langString Tropical Cyclone Sarai was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that impacted several island nations and countries in late-December 2019. The third tropical cyclone and the second named storm of the 2019-20 South Pacific cyclone season, Sarai formed from an area of low pressure to the south of Tuvalu. Over the next days, the low pressure became organized and was designated by the Fiji Meteorological Service as Tropical Disturbance 03F on December 23. Under favorable conditions, the disturbance gradually organized, becoming a depression two days later, before strengthening to a tropical cyclone, earning the name Sarai. It moved to the south, before a high-pressure steered the system to the east, passing to the south of Fiji, near Suva before weakening. Sarai passed near the Tongan islands of Haʻapai and Tongatapu as a Category 1 cyclone, before rapidly degrading to a tropical depression due to the system entering unfavorable conditions. It was last noted on January 2 to the southeast of Cook Islands. Ahead of Sarai, gale warnings, tropical cyclone alerts and heavy rain warnings were imposed for Fiji. These warnings were also raised on Tonga, Niue, and the southern Cook Islands. National and international flights were also canceled and many people are evacuated to different emergency shelters. Impacts were felt, starting on December 22 on the northern division of Fiji. The impacts of the cyclone were wide, from the country to Tonga and the Cook Islands. In total, Sarai claimed two lives, all in Fiji alone, and leftover FJ$5 million (US$2.3 million) worth of damages on that country. The damages in other countries affected by the cyclone, if any, were minor.